Physical activity

Fight against Sedentariness and Promotion of Physical Activity

Sedentariness: A Serious Problem

International public health and health promotion
authorities have declared that sedentariness is a
significant risk factor for health. The aging of the
population, increasing automation and passive recreation
are all general trends that promote sedentariness.
For the sedentary individual, increasing their level
of activity even slightly accomplishes a great deal,
considering the resulting benefits. In fact, several
studies indicate an association between physical inactivity
and a number of health problems including heart disease,
obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia
and colon cancer. Broad-scale mobilization is imperative
to significantly improve the situation and ensure
that a larger number of Québec citizens adopt
a physically active lifestyle.

Kino-Québec: Leader in the Promotion
of Physical Activity in Québec

Kino-Québec is a government program in existence
since 1978. It is managed by three partners: the Secrétariat
au loisir et au sport of the Ministère des
Affaires municipales, du Sport et du Loisir, the Ministère
de la Santé et des Services sociaux and the
regional health and social services boards. Its mission
is to promote a physically active lifestyle in order
to contribute to the well-being of the population
of Québec. Kino-Québec’s implementation
is based on a novel approach that calls on local organizations
to play a leadership role, while providing them with
support. The provincial and regional organizations
influence each other both in planning and in implementing
initiatives.

2000-2005 Kino-Québec Action Plan

Objectives

By 2010, Kino-Québec’s objective is
to reduce from 46% to 41% the percentage of Québec
residents aged 15 and older who are not engaging in
enough recreational or other physical activity for
it to have a positive impact on their health (a relative
decrease of 10%, which corresponds to the Canadian
objective).

Expected Results for 2000-2005

More specifically, Kino-Québec will orient
its activities to decrease the prevalence of sedentariness
in the following three age groups: youth aged 10 to
19, adults aged 25 to 44 and adults aged 55 and older.

Moreover, from now until 2005, Kino-Québec
has decided to prioritize two particular groups: youth
aged 10 to 19 and adults aged 25 to 44. By making
these two groups a priority, Kino-Québec is
demonstrating its intention to prevent or delay as
much as possible the gradual decline in physical activity,
a phenomenon that appears with the onset of adolescence
in part of the population.

Areas of Activity by Target Group

Youth aged 10 to 19
Schools, municipalities, community organizations
and sports associations are ideal settings in which
to target young people. Through educational and
awareness activities, the production of informative
documents and the establishment of incentive programs,
Kino-Québec encourages its partners in these
settings to offer physical and social activities
that promote participation in safe physical activity.
These may include physical education or related
courses at school, a variety of services including
outdoor activities, skateboarding or inline skating
parks, measures that promote active transportation,
etc. Publicity campaigns and contests will reinforce
partners’ activities.

Adults aged 25 to 44
Workplaces, municipalities and the healthcare
network are ideal settings in which to encourage
adults to engage in physical activity. Through educational
and awareness activities, the production of informative
documents and the establishment of incentive programs,
Kino-Québec encourages its partners in these
settings to create environments that promote physical
activity and active transportation. Kino-Québec
also encourages municipalities to make their sites
and facilities more accessible and promote their
use. These include bicycle paths, pools, tennis
courts, skating rinks, etc. Finally, certain regions
have carried out pilot projects with healthcare
professionals to provide them with tools to integrate
physical activity counselling into their practices.

Adults aged 55 and Older
This is a heterogeneous group, given the varying
levels of functional ability of the individuals
that compose it. For this reason, Kino-Québec
has divided it into two subgroups: pre-retirement
or newly retired individuals (aged 55 to 64) and
older seniors (aged 65 and older). Kino-Québec
is documenting the participation in physical activity
and the consumer habits of 55 to 64 year-olds to
be able to identify possible solutions in order
to improve the services offered to them. For the
65 and older group, Kino-Québec is solidifying
its existing program (Viactive) by working with
various community partners (seniors’ groups,
CLSCs, community organizations, etc.).

A Few Statistics

On average during a given season in a year, 46%
of the population aged 15 and older does not attain
the recommended level of physical activity.

Summer remains the season when the population is
most active, and winter, the least active.

The most radical drop in activity occurs between
the 15-24 and 25-44 age groups, for both men and women.

The number of active individuals has decreased
considerably in men aged 65 and older; the trend seems
to be the same for women in that age group.

The percentage of sedentary individuals has significantly
increased in 25-44 year-old men and in women aged
65 and older. Furthermore, this percentage seems to
be increasing in all age groups.

A large majority of the population expresses their
intention to participate in physical activity on a
regular basis.

Role of the State in Promoting a Physically Active Lifestyle

The Kino-Québec program is based on inter-ministerial
collaboration, networking, initiatives with target
populations, broadening the reach of programs through
participating partners, publicity campaigns and the
establishment of environments that promote physical
activity. This is a proven approach, which health
promotion experts have confirmed is very effective.
The strategies employed by Kino-Québec—the
creation of environments that promote physical activity,
supported by publicity campaigns—are recognized
as effective in the literature and applied in other
industrialized countries. In fact, studies show that
promoting physical activity is effective when it involves
a series of strategies that target both individuals
(to motivate them to change their behaviour) and their
physical and social environments.